NEW DELHI: Pakistan Airspace has been cleared as a cloud of volcanic ash from Ethiopia has travelled across the Red Sea, moved through Oman and Yemen, and reached New Delhi.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, considered dormant for thousands of years, erupted on Sunday morning. It sent a thick column of ash high into the sky.
The fallout has disrupted air travel in India. Several domestic and international flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted. The aviation regulator asked airlines to strictly avoid the affected airspace.
Experts say the level of ash in the air is still unclear. They believe it is unlikely to impact Delhi’s air quality, which remained in the “very poor” category on Tuesday.
Volcanic ash is a cloud of fine and abrasive particles released during an eruption. It can harm aircraft engines, contaminate runways and reduce visibility, which makes flying risky.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told the BBC that the ash is moving between 8.5km and 15km above sea level. He said the cloud may affect satellites and flight operations for a brief period. He added that it is not expected to change the weather or impact air quality. The ash reached northern India on Monday night and now appears to be drifting towards China.
Skymet Weather says it is hard to predict how long the cloud will take to settle. But IMD expects Delhi’s skies to clear by Tuesday evening.
Flight operations have already been hit. Air India cancelled 11 flights, while IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM also faced disruptions. IndiGo said on X that it is monitoring the situation with global aviation bodies. Mumbai Airport urged passengers to confirm their flight status before leaving home.
India’s aviation watchdog has advised pilots to report any suspected ash encounter, including odd engine behaviour, smoke or unusual smells in the cabin. Airlines have been told to inspect aircraft flying near affected areas and delay or suspend operations if conditions worsen.
Volcanic ash contamination is classified as low, medium or high. The level in this case remains unknown. Experts say measuring contamination requires advance preparations, which were not possible due to the sudden eruption.
Such events are uncommon. In 2010, the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano forced the closure of large parts of UK and European airspace, causing the worst travel disruption since World War Two
